Popular Christian rock band Skillet shares its secrets

By Laura GennHomeschooled

Thursday

Jan 26, 2012 at 12:01 AMJan 26, 2012 at 12:05 AM

In a world dominated by Bieber Fever (it’s a DISEASE!), Katy Perry (are all of her songs about ... um ... adult stuff?), Lady Gaga (I prefer my meat as a steak, not a dress) and too many curse-word-littered artists for me to name, I sometimes wonder if there is any hope whatsoever for the music industry.

“Blah, blah, blah. My heart is broken. This new boy LOVES me! No, he left me. Whatever. I DON’T NEED HIM! Party. Beer. Drinking! A catchy tune for marketing this at 7-year-olds!”

Really! Why is this stuff even popular? Sometimes, I fear that music is slowly dying.

Then I go listen to Skillet, and my iPod becomes my best friend once again.

The band started with a more electronic sound in its early albums, “Invincible” and “Alien Youth,” but it has transitioned and evolved into a solid rock group with awesome tunes and strong messages. Skillet took a leap of faith with “Collide,” which it followed with the unbeatable “Comatose.”

And most recently, the band gave us “Awake” — which only left us wanting more.

From the darker “Sometimes,” “Monster,” “Forsaken” and “Open Wounds” to the meaningful “Believe,” “Those Nights” and “A Little More,” Skillet’s musical history spans a broad range of emotions and styles that are relatable to just about anyone.

Not to mention, its remixes are just plain cool.

That’s why I can hardly wait to see Skillet live at Winter Jam at the Sovereign Center in Reading Thursday.

I’ll be writing about the experience, but for now, I’ll just give you a taste of Skillet’s awesomeness. I had the chance to interview them via email (fan-girl shriek!), and here are the answers provided by lead singer/band founder John Cooper.

Q: As teenagers, did you always know that you wanted to be in a rock band, or did it become a goal later in life?

A: In high school, I loved music. I started out in band. I didn’t know I would be able to do music professionally one day, but I thought it would be cool to do that. I started writing music when I was 16, though it was not until college that I thought I would give it a shot professionally.

Q: How has your music evolved in its message and style since “Invincible” and “Alien Youth” to the more-recent “Awake”?

A: I think the way our music has changed the most is in the lyrics. Our first few records, we were writing songs to a Christian audience, and in my 2003 release of “Collide,” I began writing to a broader audience. I began writing songs that all kinds of people could relate to — songs about love, fear, heartbreak, relationships, etc.

Q: What musical artists have inspired you and/or influenced Skillet?

A: When I was growing up, I listened to Christian music only at my house, bands like Petra and Stryper, but all my friends were listening to metal, so I was more (influenced) by bands like Bon Jovi, Motley Crue and Metallica. As I got older I began to be influenced by U2 and Bono; the way he has used his platform to have a message greatly influences Skillet.

Q: How does your faith in Christianity affect your music?

A: All of my music is written through my Christian worldview; you could not have Skillet without Christianity.

Q: What message and/or messages do you want teenagers to take away from your music?

A: In general, a message of hope in a dark world, and specifically, that their lives matter even when they don’t feel worthy or good enough or like a letdown to their parents, etc. I want teens to know that they are worth something to God, and God loves them anyways.

Q: What are some of your favorite songs that you’ve recorded, whether old or new?

A: My favorite is probably “Rebirthing.” I think that song has all of the best aspects of Skillet, musically and lyrically. I also love “Monster.”

Q: Which of your songs do you think drew the most from your personal experiences — and how?

A: Probably “Hero” because I wrote that song based on a time when I was wondering who my own children would look up to when they get older. Who is left to believe in? I was hit hard by all the Catholic priest accusations during that time, and I thought, “Man, these are supposed to be heroes to kids.” That is why I wrote that song; it’s about all the people who we believe in the past that have let us down. And secondly, the song “One Day Too Late” I wrote in reference to spending more time with my kids and my wife (band mate Korey Cooper) instead of getting busy with natural responsibilities and other things in life.

Q: Where do you intend to take Skillet in the future? Do you have plans to release a new album some time soon?

A: I definitely hope 2012 has a new Skillet release, and in terms of the future, I’d say we are going to stay on the path we are on now. We garnered respect for the current album in the mainstream market, including mainstream rock radio. I’d like to hit pop radio for the first time and keep the same standard Skillet has set about being vocal about our faith, pushing that envelope, if you will.

Q: What are some of the highlights and/or downsides of touring and playing at events like Winter Jam in Reading?

A: The highlights are getting to play in front of a lot of people in general, and out of those people, there are usually a lot of new fans, maybe people who wouldn’t see Skillet play but would come to an event of that size, so we end up winning over new fans. I like the idea of different genres, different ethnicities and different bands coming together for a big event; it’s special. There really is not a downside to it.

Q: Your catchphrase: “I am a peanut!” Is there a story behind this?

A: This is a very dumb story. One night, we were recording, and it was approaching the hours where you are so tired, everything is funny. I was eating some trail mix that was a generic brand called “Peanut Melody,” and I started making up a melody of peanut songs.

Q: You explain on your podcasts that your fans send you all sorts of interesting things in the mail. What is one of the most memorable things that you received from a fan?

A: We get a lot of duct tape items, whether it’s wallets, handbags, etc. One time, someone gave me a big eight-inch duct tape skillet, like a pendant on a duct tape necklace, like something MC Hammer would wear if it were gold. We get a lot of weird stuff! People make artwork, photo albums of themselves wearing Skillet shirts, and so many other weird things that we end up doing a segment on the podcast called “Cool Stuff People Give Us.”

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